The Definitive Teen Soap Opera Gets In-Depth Documentary
Variety reports that a Degrassi documentary is in the works, and will provide a profound amount of insight into the iconic long-running Canadian teen drama. The three-part documentary will feature behind-the-scenes footage, and interviews with its creators, cast, crew, and fans. Though an official release date has yet to be announced, it sounds like fans of the franchise are about to get the Degrassi deep-dive that they’ve been waiting for.
Degrassi Dates Back To 1979
The Degrassi documentary has a lot of ground to cover, as the franchise has been up and running since 1979. Since the series’ inception, the franchise has branched out into novels, graphic novels, soundtracks, web-series, made-for-TV films, and works of non-fiction. Based on episode count, the series earned the title of longest-running Canadian drama, surpassing The Beachcombers in 2012.
The upcoming documentary will mark a partnership between Wildbrain, who owns the Degrassi franchise, and Canadian production company Peacock Alley. Lisa Rideout, who is most well known for her work on documentaries like Sex with Sue and Take a Walk on the Wildside, will be helming the project alongside executive producers Josh Scherba, Stephanie Betts, Angela Boudreault, and Carrie Mudd.
An Accurate Depiciton Of Teen Struggles
Degrassi has been a popular young adult franchise that has stood the test of time because of its honest portrayal of teen struggles in modern times. The decades-long series has covered controversial topics that resonate with adolescents, like teen pregnancy, class and race issues, AIDS, child abuse, bullying, and neglect. But the series also realistically depicts the more mundane everyday struggles that teens face, like learning how to shave, working up the courage to talk to their crush, first kisses, and other awkward scenarios that come with the territory.
Celebrities That Got Their Start On The Show
It’s also worth noting that a number of household names got their start on Degrassi, including Drake, Raymond Ablack, Nina Dobrev, Shenae Grimes, and Jake Epstein. Since we’re dealing with a tell-all retrospective about the series and its various offshoots, it’s not outside the realm of possibility that we’ll be hearing from the very stars whose careers kicked off with the iconic series, and see what they’re up to now.
Degrassi Revival In The Works
We also have some good news in regard to the Degrassi revival that has been long in the works. After HBO Max restructured and merged with Warner Bros. Discovery in 2022, it was announced that the series would not move forward. But as recently as this past August, series creator Linda Schulyer has stated that Wildbrain is committed to the future of the franchise.In other words, Schulyer suggests that the failed HBO deal was a false start, and that there are ongoing discussions with WarnerMedia to push forward and eventually continue as intended. But we’re going to have to wait a little bit longer on this front, as the Hollywood Labor strikes over the summer impacted the plans to develop the series.
Documentary And New Series Coming Soon For New Generations To Discover
So not only is a three-part Degrassi documentary series in the works, we’ll hopefully see the revival materialize sometime in the near future. Degrassi has an unrivaled legacy, and we’re so glad that new generations of fans and those who watched the series during their formative years alike can bond over the coming-of-age drama that shaped their adolescence.
